Process of heating muffles, retorts, and the like



Nov. 1, 1932. F. lazRElm-:L 1,885,583

PROCESS 0F HEATING MUFFLES, RETORTS, AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRHVIARY /7COMBUSTION /54 I @ESS or: AIR

PRIMER COMSU ION Excess 0F AIR 5%:

Now 1, 1832.. F, BREDEL 1,885,583

PROCESS OF HEATING MUFFLES, RETORTS, AND THE LIKE Fild May 9. 195o 5 Sheetsheet 2 Nov. l, 1932. F BREDEL 1,885,583

PROCESS oF HEATING MUEELEs, EEToRTs, AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1930` 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il Z5 @MM/Woef MMM- 11//5 T To ,eN/S Kg.

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATE. OFFICE FREDERICK BREDEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO THOMAS D. MILLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI; LEE W. GRANT ADMINISTRATOROF SAID FREDERICK BREDEL, I)ECEASED` PROCESS F HEATING MUFFLES, RETORIS, AND THE LIKE Application filed May 9,

This invention relates to systems for heating muflles, retorts, and the like. Heretofore it has been diliicult to evenly heat such retorts and muHes, especially vertical or horizontal coke ovens, throughout their entire length or height. To more evenly heat vertical Ovens throughout the entire horizontal plane, and horizontal ovens throughout their entire vertical plane, I have devised a system of heating wherein a secondary (regulated) combustion takes place after the products of combustion have arrived at the end opposite to the place where the iirst combustion took place. This secondary combustion takes place at what is generally called the front of vertical ovens and at the top of horizontal ovens, thereby equalizing the heating of said ovens. by securing a combustion at opposite. horizontal .points in. vertical ovens, and at opposite vertical points in horizontal ovens.

fr0 Obtain this double combustion, I' hear the ovens by one or more units of three flues each. Two of such flues being heated by a primary and one by a secondary combustion. If deemed advisable, this secondary combustion heating flue can be split up to form two or more iiues in .which case each unit would consist of two flues for primary and two or more iiues for secondary combustion. The combustion chamber for each primary combustion flue is supplied with an over rich mixture offuel gas and air, that is an excess of combustible gas and an insut'cient air supply; and the other primary combustion chamber is supplied with a lean mixture of gas and air, that is an excess of air and an insucient supply of combustible gas. When the products of the partial combustion dues meet the products of the iue having an eX- cess of air, at their return passage, a secondary (complete) combustion takes place and in this way each of the three iues is evenly heated by regulating the amount of gas and air supplied to the two primary combustion flues.

The number of units required to heat vertical and horizontal ovens will depend on the height of the vertical oven or the length of the horizontal oven. The products of com- 1930. SeraI No. 450,892.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. l' is a vertical cross-section through a. vertical coke oven embodying my invention, the section being taken on the line 1 1 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cr0ss-section on the line 2 2 in Fig. 17

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through' i said oven on the line 3 3 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 1s a horizontal cross-section through said oven, the upper and lower halves of said section being taken on the lines 4-4 and 4a-4a, respectively, in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of a horizontal coke oven embodying my invention, the left and right halves of said section being taken on the lines 5 5 and 5a 5a, respectively, in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section through the horizontal coke oven on the line 6 6 in Fig. 5.

Flues 7, 8, 9 and 1()V (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) are air flues of a vertical coke oven. 1 7, I 8, I 9 and I 1O (see Figs. 3 and 4) indicate air inlets for the air lues 7, 3, 9 and 10 and are fitted with suitable` air admission regulating valves designated by singlefeat-h ered arrows (see Fig.r 4). Flues 11, 12, 13 and 14 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) are fuel-gas lues. I ll, I 12, I 13 and I 14 (see 'Fig 4) indicate fuel-gas inlets fitted with Figs. 1 and 2').

(see Figs. 1 and 2) indicate secondary combustion chambers where gases from flues 15a and 16a meet and then enter into secondary heating flues 18 (see Figs. 1 and 2) thereby heating the rest of the retort 19. The gases from fiues 18 enter the recuperator 2O (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) by means of connecting flues 18a (see Figs. 1 and 2) and ultimately leave the recuperator by means of flues 200:y (see Figs. 1 and 3) which lead to the atmosphere.

The horizontal coke oven shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is provided with air inlets 1 21, 1 22, 1 23, 1 24, 1 25 and l26 (sce Fig. 5) which correspond to the inlets 1 7, l-8, I-9 and I-lO of Figs. 3 and 4. Air fiues 21 to 26 (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to air flues 7 to 10 of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Gas inlet Hues 'Ie-27 to -32 (see Fig. 5) correspond to gas inlet fines 1 11 (see Fig. 4); and gas flues 27 (see Fig. 5) correspond to gas iiues 11 to 14 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4).

Primary combustion chambers 33 and 34 (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to primary combustion chambers 15 and 16 (see Figs. 1 and 4). Primary heating flues 33a` and 34al (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to primary heating flues 15a and 16a (see Figs. 1 and 4). Secondary combustion chambers 35 (see Figs. 5 and G) correspond to secondary combustion chambers 17 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Secondary heating flues 36 (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to secondary heating flues 18 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Connecting flues 36a (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to connecting flues 18a (see Recuperators 37 see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to recuperators `20 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Outlet ilues 37 a (see Figs. 5 and 6) correspond to outlet flues 20a (see Figs. 1 and The retorts or ovens 38 (see Fig. 5) correspond to retorts 19 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4.).

The following is a description of the operation of the above heating system for each individual unit consisting of two primary flues and one or more (one only shown) secondary combustion fines. Air and gas in correct proportion to form complete combustion without excess of oxygen is admitted to fiues 7 and 8, 11 and 12, such air and gas being regulated preferably by valves at the inlets to said flues, until the right Aheat is obtained. Most of the heat will be absorbed while passing through flues 15a and 16a, and heating flue 18 will be found to be too cold. An eXtra amount of fuel-gas is now admitted to flues 11 by means of valve at 1 11, and also an extra amount of air to flue 8. This will not materially change the temperature in flues 15a and 16a, but the unconsumed gas, when leaving the flue 16a and meeting the surplus air from flue 15a in secondary combustion chamber 17, will cause a secondary combustion to supply the necessary extra heat. To heat fines 18 properly, it is only necessary to so adjust entrance air and gas vales of nues 7 and 8; and 11 and 12, respectively. So far as the flue 18 is concerned, it is immaterial if fiue 15a or 16a has a surplus of fuel-gas.

By the above it will be seen that the heat in any part of the above heating system is under perfect control. 1f desired, the secondary combustion flue may be split up so as to consist of two or more secondary combustion lues to act tandem the same as one fiue.

TvVhat I claim is:

1. The improvement in the process of heating a muffle or retort having two primary combustion fines and one secondary combustion ue contiguous to the walls thereof for heating the same, with the primary combustion flues arranged to discharge into the secondary combustion flues, which improvement comprises continuously burning in one of said primary combustion flues a fuel gas with insufficient air for complete combustion of the fuel gas, separately burning in the other of said primary combustion flues a second portion of fuel gas with an excess of air over that required for the complete combustion of the second portion of fuel gas and then passing the gases from the combustions of the two portions of fuel gas from said primary combustion flues into said secondary combustion flue and combining the gases therein and continuing the combustion in said secondary combustion flue and conveying heat to said muiie or retort from each of the three combustion ues.

2. The process of heating a muffle or retort which comprises burning in one zone a fuel gas with insufficient air for complete combustion ofthe fuel gas, separately burning in another Zone a second portion of fuel gas with an excess of air over that required for complete combustion of the second portion of fuel gas, combining the gases from the combustions of the two portions of fuel gas and continuing the combustion of the unburned fuel gas in a third zone separate from the two mentioned zones and separately conyveying heat to said muffle or retort from the 

